Roger Rees

Roger Rees May 5 1944 July 10 2015 was a WelshAmerican actor and director Born in Aberystwyth Wales he grew up in south London where his father worked as a police officer He attended Camberwell College of Arts and the Slade School of Fine Art initially training as a painter before transitioning to theater work He painted scenery at the Wimbledon Theater in south London before becoming an actor there in 1965 Rees became widely recognized for his stage work particularly his starring role in the Royal Shakespeare Companys adaptation of Charles Dickens Nicholas Nickleby which brought him both an Olivier Award and a Tony Award He also received Obie Awards for his role in The End of the Day and as codirector of Peter and the Starcatcher On television he joined the hit TV comedy Cheers for the 198990 season as Kirstie Alleys suitor the singleminded international financier and corporate raider Robin Colcord and appeared in various other productions including the scifi series MANTIS He became an American citizen in 1989 and was married to theatre collaborator Rick Elice since 2011 Roger was subsequently diagnosed with cancer and while performing on Broadway in the musical The Visit starring Chita Rivera he was forced to quit the show in late May 2015 The 71yearold actor died on July 10 2015 leaving behind a distinguished legacy